Method of producing woven reed articles.



M B. LLOYD.

METHOD or vaonucma woven REED ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUL-Y 17.29MB- Patented Oct. 16, i917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l nlilC/lfO/"I Marv/tall flll loyd M. B. LLOYD.

METHOD OF PRODUCING WOVEN REED ARTICLES APPLICATION HLED' JULY :1. 191a.

l,243,o79. Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. B. LLOYD.

METHOD 0E PRODUClNG WOVEN REED ARTICLES-.

APPLYCATIGN FILED JULY H. 1916.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

/(dw w jzzbrizg uni-saint B. nnorn, or nnncsninnn zucn'roa'x.

[MOD OF IPBODUGH IG WOVEN REED AR'IIGLEB.

'la aZlwho/n it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mansnau. B. LLOYD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Menominee, county of Menominec, end State of Michi an, have invented a certain new, useful, an. improved Method of Producing WovenReed Articles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates enerally to' the manufacture of reed artic es and relates more particularly to the manufacture of reed fabric, and al to its application to supporting frames. l y Cross reference is hereby made to applicants co-pemdinq applications each entitled Method of producing woven reed articles and bearing serial numbers and filin dates as follows: Serial No. 146,909, filed ebrumy 6th, 1917; Serial No. 146,910, filed Feliruaryrtith, 1917; Serial No. 149,614, filed February 19th. 1917; which applications disclose and claim certain subject matter which is herein disclosed but not claimed. The reed fabric with which my invention is concerned is composed of a plurality of spaced members called stakes, which may be example, the, filler strand in some instancescane fabric such as is extensively used for chair seats and the like. While the tiller r 'of reed or wire and which in workable lengths have suflicient rigidity to be selfsupporting and to resist considerable force tending in bend or kink abruptly. In this,

respect :1 east thcy'diifer tly from the loose character of the threa s of cloth which can be bent, twisted, or kinked in almost any manner with little forcc and withoutnmterially injuring them. Upon these stakes long strands called fillers are woven over some Ofthe stakes and under others. For

may assover one .Stalre and under the next ad acent stake, or imnay [pass over one-stake and under the next. twoa jaceiit stakes, or it me vary in the manner-in which it iveav'es" un er and over thestakes in a great many ways to reduce different results and effects.

The reel fabric with which my invention is concerned is also to be distinguished from strands may be and sometimes are put undi such tension as will gradually curve or shapev w Specification oilctten 2min.

Application fled I n17 17, 1818. man Io. 100,714.

with the reed fabric! Patented Oct. 16.11917.

stakes, to the end that the finished fabric will have the desired form, the stakes are not usually abruptly bent or dis laced hi, the filler strands, but on the-otiier ban ,the tiller strands are bent and shaped to interweave around stakes.

Reed is made in various sizes and in different cross-sectional sha es; it is tough and somewhat pliable and w 10]! woven presents an article which is of pleasinfi appearance urt and of durable charac'tcr'., ermorc, while the natural woody or fiber-like bod of the reed presents an appearance thatns really artistic, it may nevertheless, be readily tinted or paintedin any desired manner. Because of the inherent desirable qualities of the reed, ar' icles made therefrom are-extensively employed. Inmanufacturing {read articles, it has been the universal practice to weave the fabric free hand and for the reedworl er to shape the article in the process of weaving to the desired form. If'the article is one which must sustain considerable weight, or which is subject to heavy strains in use, such for example as a vehicle or an article of furniture, it is customar to provide a rigid frame and to cover t a frame n weaving such articles asjmve a slipporting frame, it, hasbe'en hitherto customary to fasten'the stakes in spaced relation to the article frame and then to weave the filler strands thereon. If the article is mg is irregular in shape, the stakes project at various angles. Dufingthe weaving operation,

-l1nder thehitherto uniyersal practice, these stakes must be constantlyshaped and alined, so that the fabric wi desired vshape and also will have once of umformit positioned, assumethe r and articularlyto the end that the sta es she I 111125. The 0' eration of wear "and 5 apin the reed abric upon the girth: e is a most di' cult one because-of. manyggvaria'ble factors and-hence ire; highly Skilled workmen, so much so thut where there is any substantial amount of shapinfituas ie necesan appeim I no assume re lar nary under present mehbds article ih v spbwns r d. m --l* tir was tem 'i. m b

dii idilalietid weaving fife-each t e {upon gieach.-.article frainejcan :be reduced'to oemplo ed ai iclitheiithe tiinerequired is consiclerzi le er ftomanufeqtureia. relutive y small ai'tic'le. jg As a result of 1 the foregoi facts reed articles, ewhile extensively use are ll" thepreseut time expensive;

provide a methocl-wherewit itLshall-be' possibl'ef 'to weave reed articles. with? enter A repidity and otlower cost thzm has hitherto beenpossibleli -Further obiects of my invention are' to eview met; ed ofiweaving reed artlcles 1n which"muny 'pf the hitherto variable 21c ments or factors shallbeelimipat'ed" where- \1'ithi' artist'o e ticlesghuriug curvecl or ir-.

regular lines :can. be produced* with eubstun- 'tial-ly the' same eaeeas the'strai ht, uniform and simple articles; with who it shallbe possible; to Weave'gthe reedfabriq with greater uniformity and with increased strength; wherewith unskilled workers .oan produce reed'isirticles of the-kind hitherto produ'cible onlyiby the'mostsl'rilledtwork ,mengfland ivherewith thehithertohighly in- Ifabric 'fec'to'iy system .Of' weavih the reed; fabricxaparft from the 'fi-pimei en; applying it thereto in a me uner to secure'desired shapes P} M i; invention consists generally in the uiunncneteps; acts, and uricethei'eof,

whereby the :zibove named zbjects together f'withg 'others ,whichv'ugill-ahppear hereinafter "are-obtainable;- anclm invention will e more: readily -understozi by referenceto the uccozri mnying rawin'gs illustrativc thereof;

and jwierem;*f' 1 Figurel, is; a perspective view of axial video; 'reed covering. i

Fig. 2', is.- afiside elevation of the -frame,

. fe w; n

Rig 1 but on a, slightly enlarged .Fi *giiiiig,;or fOIfIQEiflPOD which I weave the .inecho'hism hown n 'i is atiQs-seotion the [in theoperntioh of'securiug the to the article frame.

The general-object oim invention is w ticle frumeupon.whichfit is desired toipro 3, is: side elevation of hie flight,

etai-le'd fvigxy substantiall on Fig-'18, is eview showin'g efurther step i'niihflio .eratioh of securing the-fabricto the a'rticib frame.

Fi 14, is a, "vertical transverse sectionbf the. w shed article,

FighlfliS, imd '19iillut'mte the method .pfgwinf different shapes, to the fabric on t ":irtic e.

igs. 15 and 1,6, illustrnt'e' a finishing the fabric edge. u

.Ei'g. 20,;il1ustrates a strip of fabric which has been producedin endless form andseveredito form a strip 5 and method of FigjQl, iea plan view 0 to w i canbepupplied.

For the purposes of illustration I have i chosen tode ict the'manufactu're of a. baby 'carriuge ..bo 1 because such articles; in the ireeciware, are used extensively, ,and furthermore'b'ecause such articles-on the one hamiiairly illustrate the difiiculties' encoune te'red in-the production of reed article's under th'e'hitherto universal method, and on the I other hmd the-ease and simplicity-of manufeaturing articles under my' method. IT; the'drawin 1',- illustrntee the article frame whichin tblsinstancecomprises 'a some- -u'hatrectungula rshapedupper-member.2,and depeh mgflsomewhat' U-shaped :side memers;3, which in turn are connected by cros s- V .members4; and 4. In' order better to understahd' the difficulties of weaving fabric y u'poil; the frame it the hitherto customarv' rhember: 3, and along the cross members 4- nnd 4;; In order to secure the bowed or jcurvegbshape in the fabric, as shown in Fl 14, 17, 18, and19. it has been necessary to a'stex'a thc-stukee intothe-side ortions of A the frame-so that they projectsu stantially at. 'ght anglesthereto v The-reed workers having fastened the siakes in this position strand over ohd undor'thfe stakes. utthe saint- 1 limeielijupingjhe stulres ugwurdly ir'md pincingthe:fillifetmndsyun er justuthe'ri ht tension in that the stakes can be gradna l turned ijmm1tl eirright angulnp positions progressively hpwardi T0 sha e these-di vol-gent stnkes'gmdually upwnr l ,to maintnin them. in proper spaced relationoahfl to .;s l,ia pe the filler strand with, 'ust that degree nf tension necessary to givet e desired shape imrl character to the fabric, is difficult indeed because of the 1mm} variable factors which Must; be coiisidcred and for which compensatiqr if must ha made. v

- l'mighti lostatc that in weaving reed in f atype ai frameoh'the strip fabric shown" in Fig. 20

any forin' 'which "is circular, spherical or vl partially soythere is anatural tendency for the reed to for n in, that is to contract he yond the desired form or shape. This is probably due to the fact that the stakes are old at one end in desired ulinement and a when so secured cannot possibly more out- ,jvwa rdly while the other end of the stakes are ffrec and under the tension necessary to secure a tight weave are gradually and naturally pulled in. That is to say a novice weaving reed fabric could not weave it properly in such form, but it requires skilled weavers who understand thoroughly the action of the recd and who can counter-act the apparently naturally forming of the reed in 1- ric to the extent necessary to give the fabric 1|}, the desired shape.

-1 I have solved this diliicult com lex prob- 51cm ina very simple way by e iminatingi ,gniany of the variable factors and reducing thercmaining ones to simple easily under no and easily manipulated steps. To

the article frame which is usually of irregu- .lur shape, and which at best is oorly adapted" for convenient weaving, weave the fabric bysimply weaving in a natural manner around oragainst the templet or form.

.;. The templet is of such character that the fabric produced thereon will fit the desired tra n: at the templet or form need not ,he of t o same shape as the article to be covcretl'as I find I can reshape the reed fabric tufter it is finished to admit'covcring article framesvaiying considerably in size, shape e 4.5 arirlcharacter. Infect, I find that t weaving operationis greatly facilitated in many-instances b weaving the fabric upon a circular-or out less form or temfplct and ubric then reshaping the finished reed l tq elongated or such other shape as may be dosired,-or if necessary, cutting it. for. applicationto the frame. In the drawings 5, represents a suitable templetupon which I weave-the fabric and 66 which in this. instancecompriscs a lower annulus 6, and an upper annulus 7;'l'n:tween which are-a plurality of members 8, which sex-ve ns guides, limiting devices. or rcstraim in elements as will he hcrcim fter more fu ly describer. It so happens in this instance that it .is d irahle that the side 'of Ith article shall in se a gentle bow as indicated iii-Fig. 14-. and for this reason I pre f for to make the .wqcs ,c F relation of the qaguides 8, in'such a mom'- that a line conthis end instead of weaving the fabric upon fabric independent of the article frame in the roost unskilled worker can weave the .the stakes and 16, the filler strands.

necting their eripheries would be curved or bowed, T e templet, 5, is preferably mounted for rotation, although thisis a mere matter of convenience, upon a support 9, by any suitable means such for example, as the vertical shaft 10, which is secured'centrally of the tcmpl'et and which has a projecting portion entering a socket in the support. In the lower annulus 6, are a number of holes 11, suitably spaced iii 76 which the stakes 15, are placer] and from which they upstand as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. These sta'kes it will be noted, u stand in regular form and encircle t e tcmplet guides 8. It is a most simple opera- 80 tion for the worker to weave the filler strands upon the stakes in this condition, it being but necessary to continue the filler strand or strands over and under the stakes :mrlaround the templet in regular courses from the bottom to the top, or conversely from the top to the bottom if desired, although I find it more convenientto work from the bottom upwardly. The filler strands are pulled so that the stakes just i follow the uidcs 8, of the tom let substantially as i'nr icated in Fig. 9. he templet, therefore, so limits the movement of the stakes and the tension upon the filler strands that the fabric is naturally shaped to the 05 form of the templet. The relatively close relation of the guides 8, prevents the stakes from bcin bent in beyond the desired point or line. nthis manner. an endless fabric having uniform courses of the filler strand can be produced rapidly by even an unskilled worker. 'lh' completed fabric is shown in Figs. 10 and 11 wherein 15,- aIrc n this instance I have left portions 17, 0f the stakes projectin from the body of the fabric at each end I: e purpose of which will be shortly described. To mount the woven fabric upon the article frame I apply'pressure to the sides of the fabric thus prodac- 11 0 ing a somewhat rectangular shape asindicated by the dotted line in Fig. 11. In this condition it can be easily placed over the article frame starting the large'opcn end of the .fabric over the bottom smaller end of the frame. Having placed the fabric upon the frame as indicated in the side view of Fig. l2'l fasten it to the ends of the frame in which condition it will be noted that the fabric projects upon the middle portion of the side members of theframe and. does not quite extend to the lower portion. The rea-.' son, fortbis'is' that the filler strands of the fabric are woven in regular progressive", courses while the frame is curved or (lo-126 pressed in the middle. I have discovered, 5;

owevcr, that I can readily shape. the fabriog' to the frame by simply .pulling upon it and al'so that the stakes serve as rzonven -tnt handles forthat purpose. I pull upon the 1 3 0 lower ends of the stakes until the lowermost filler strands substantially coincide with the lower frame member at which time I secure the fabric in place by means of tacks, brads or other suitable fastening devices.

By making the lower portion of the fabric frame as it can be readrl folded thereon. In fact in some instances designedly lprovide sullicient fabric for that purpose. has

it becomes evident that I. can manufacture the fabric with the filler strands progressin in regular courses and applying the filushe fabric to ,an article woven thereon would require that theworker shape the strands irregularly and in nonparallel relation. At this time I might also state that I can give varying degrees of curvature to the sides of the article body (crosssectionally considered) by fastening the fabric along the bottom or top and pulling with greater or lesser force thus placing the ,fabric under more or less tension. In Fig. 18 I have wrapped the fabric or-folded it well over the frame members and-.have

made it substantially taut therebetween.

This gives but little curvature tothe sides and to secure a somewhat greater curvature I may proceed as indicated in Fig. 17 wherein I have illustratedthe same fabric pulled I less fabric cut it throughout its heigiht thus with less'force. and wrapped a lesser distance aroundthe frame which gives a greater bow or more curvature to the fabric. Again I may secure a still greater bow or curvature with a resulting 50 byproceeding as indicated in Fig. 19. In this instance the fabric is not wrapped around frame members to any substantial extent-but issecured somewhat alon the sides of the frame, thus placing all 0 the fabrici between frame members and conseuent viii q y g g diminution in the tension. In hiswa'y a numberof-difi'erent effects can be'produced'fronie g'ivenfsbric.

In Fig.

simply applied to the article and before the pro ecting end, porti'ons ofthe stakes are foldeddotvn'to. present a. finished ed e. Thercare many wa s of finishing the edge of the. fabric and I ave illustrated but one ducin way in Figs; 15and116. The portions 17- ,of. the stakes are bent at right angles as indicatedbythe dottedline (See Fig. 15) each end portion. assin over the next adjacent stake and be ind t e second one thus roa finished edge 15, as shown in lg. 16. f,course, I may so finish the ed as of the fabric before it. is placedupon the which if the fabricviere it a greater bow or-cur'vatnre ing. the. reed .fabric in a manner convenient l for the weaving operation. and whennoes- 13, Ihave illustrated the reed 1 of skill in the workrnan. .With

if desired, but I have so far found it more convenient to leave the projecting portions of thestakes and to finish them after they are placed uponthe article.

It maybe well here to note that in pro- 'ducmg the article shown by the hitherto, usual method, it is necessary to employ many.-

and material is thus effected. The tremendous advantages of this method will be obvious to those skilled in the art without further comment.

In qualifying the fabric or its elements as reed in the specification or claims, I

mean to limit my invention to fabric the elements of which cotiperate in the manner above described as characteristic of. the stake and strand fabric made of reed, buttoemln'ucc such materials whether they be the natural reedfipap'er reed, or other materials having the general characteristicsfof reed.

. In the article thus far described the fabric extends continuously around the frume-butmy novel method is not to he considered as limited to such form. -Forexample, I can just as easily cover a U-shaped frame as shown in Fig. 21. To cover such a frame I can proceed as already described tomake an endless fabric and having produced the endsary or desirable reshaping and Lappi ng" it to the article ;-frame, as distinguish fromthe hitherto universal practice of weaving.

in a. manner which is inconvenient, slow';"]20- laborious and dpendent upon a highde ee myfnet 'od lets of; if-

by providing 'relativelyfe males in at ferent sizes and shapes rec 'variety can be produced rapidly by unskilled 12 workers and at relatively low cost.

Inasmuch as this di hours will readil suggest to others skilled in the art p whic p this a pertains, various methods rvhere'by the'su stantial objects of my invention can 1st 8 cntirc fabric. A great saving in bothtimo Q be attained, 1 do not wish to be limited t "ticles havingc frame and a tubular reed fabric whiehconsists in weavingthe reed fabricin tubular shape diflerent from the frame, reshaping the abric out of its plane of weave and attaching it to the frame.

. 3. The method of manufacturing reed articlw having a frame and n. reed fabric which consists in weaving the reed fabric about a templet in a shape different from the frame, reshaping the fabric out of its plane of weave and attaching it to the frame. 4. The method ofmanufactur" tubular reed articles having a frame an a. reed fabric which consists in weaving the reedfabric in tubular form about a templet ins shape different from the frame, reshapin the fabric out of its plane of: veave an attaching it to the frame.

5. The method of msnufacturng reed artirles having a frame and a reed fabric which consists in weaving the" reed fabric in a. shape different from the frame, reshaping to conform tothe frame ir'desired manner, folding marginal port-ions over the frame and attaching thereto.

'6. The method bf manufacturing tubular reed articles having a frame and a tubular reed fabric which consists in weaving a reed fabric in a shape difle'rent from the frame, shzl )ing the fabric to conform to the frame ill/desired manner, and folding desired mar- ..ginal portionsover the frame and attaching the-same thereto. v j

7. The method of manufacturing reed articles having a frpme and a reed fabric which consistsdn vieaving the reed fabric about a" templt in'n shape different from the frame, shaping the fabric to conform to the framedn desired manner, and folding desired marginal portions over the frame {and E'attaching the some thereto.

8.5,The method of manufacturing tubular reed fabric which consists in weaving the reed fabric about a temglet in a'shapje different fromthe frame, s aping the fa rm to conform to the frame in desired manner,

ticles having a frame and a reed fabric which folding desired marginal portions over the frame and attachin the same thereto.

9. The method 0 manufacturing tubular reed articles having a frame and a tubular e5 reed fabricwhich consists in weaving the the reed fabric in a.

'at least in part, and having sectional dimensions, removm the reed fab-' reed articles having a frame and a tubular reed-fabric a art from the frame, lacing the woven fa ric upon the frame, olding.

10'. The method of manufacturing tubular reed articles having a frame and a tubular reed fabric which consists in weaving the.

reed fabric about a templet in tubular form apart from the frame, placing the woven fabric upon the frame. folding desired mar ginal portions over the frame, and attaching same thereto.

1-]. The method of manufacturing reed articles having a frame and a tubular reed fabric which consists in weaving a tubular reed fabric having a contour curved with respect to its axis, at least in part, and having different cross sectional dimensions, re-

ing the fabric out of its plane of weave v shaap an attaching it to the frame.

12. The method of manufacturing reed articles having a frame and a tubular reed fabric which consists in weaving a tubular reed fabric about a templct, the fabric having a contour curved with respect to its axis, different cross ric r'esha ing it out of its p one of weave and attac ing it to the frame. 13. The method of manufacturing 'reed articles having a frame and a tubular reed fabric which consists in Weaving a tubular reed fabric having a contour curved with resipect to its axis, at least in part, and having ilferent cross sectional dimensions, shaping the fabric out'of its plane of weave to conformto the frame in desired manner, folding desired marginal portions over the frame and attaching the same thereto.

The method of manufacturing reed 14. articles having a frame and a tubular reed fabricwhich consists inva'eaving, about a templet a tubular reed fabric having a contour curved with res ct to its axis at least in part, and having di erent cross sectional dimansions, shaping the fabric out of its plane of weave to conform to the frame in desired manner, folding desired marginal portions over the frame and attaching the same thereto. i

15. The methodof manufacturing reed ar ticles having a frame and a tubular reed fab-' ric which consistsin weaving the tubularreed fabric having a contour. curved with respect to its uxis,at least in part, and having different crosssectional dimensions, lacing the ivroven fabric upon the frame, fol ng desir'dnfarginal portions over the frame and attachin the same thereto.

16. e method of manufacturing reed arconsists in weaving the filler strandsupon the stakes in substantially parallel relations reshapin the. fabric to cause a substantia part of e filler strands to assume non-parfabric which ,i: nSists -'i 1'1 waving the filler strands upon the stakes in substantially ar- 'strands to' assume non-para e1 relations, at V leqstin part, andatta'ching "the fabric .to the frame; I 18.; Th e method" of' manufacturing read articles having a frameand a :tubular reed iabricwhieheonsists in Weaving, the filler ingthe fabric to cause a substanti strandsuponthe stakes in substantially pan;- allel relations, reshaping the fabric-t0 cause" a substantial part o f the filler strands to assumo non-parallel-relations, atleast in part, a

and attaching the, fabric to the frame.

19; The method of manufacturing reed articleshuving a frame anda tubular *reed' 'febric' w 'i'hich'coneists in weaving the filler strands u'pen the stakes in substantiallyparing the fabric to cause a substantial part of the ffille strands to assume non-parailel'relations;at least in part, andattaching the fabric to theffiame."

2Q.-,Th e m etho d of manufacturing reedarticl'es having a.-frame and e tubular reed apart of thalillen-f strands to assume non-para e1'reiations, atileast' in art, p lncmg. the fabric allel relations, and about a tempieti res upon-the fri1me,- f0 ding desiredmargine! pontionsyovar the fra neiand securing same thereto; 3'

v 21. The method of inauufaeturing reed which consists in weavin the fabric tn .t'u-

bula fpnfn apart from the frame, seciiring .po tlons thereof to the frame, dletorting edgewi se a eubstnntial portion of the'it'uhric Whlfih 'ie-"uneeeured, and seeming distorted portions to" the frn'me'. a

25. The method of manufacturing a 1mmcircular reed article having a fXjHl'llB n'nd a reed fabric which consists inweiivin" ll1efabric about a circular templet into'tu u1ar,

shape,'reshaping-the fabric out of itsplan'e ofweave and permanently attachingit to the frame.- I L 24. The method of manufacturing a noncircular reed article having a frame and a reed fabric which'consists in weaiiing the "anal relations and about a templet, xe'shap- -fabric into circular shape, reshaping, the

fabric out of its plane-of weave and permw nently attachi n the fabric to the frame."

25. The met 0d of manufacturing reed articles having shame and tubular fabric"- which consists in'wenving the fabric-to. tubulai'form a art from the frame distorting the iabric while intubular form, undplacing the distorted fabric upon andsecuning ittothe frame. w l J In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set myhand, this 11th dafyfl of July; 191-6, in the presence of two subscribm witnesses.

Witnesses:

harm Wan lemon. 

